* Special model for the 80th Birthday of the rally legend
* Modern technology and all-wheel turbo engine with 240 hp

RÃ¼sselsheim. Two victories in the Saab 96 in the legendary Monte Carlo Rally and a hat trick in the RAC Rally in England, the Swede Erik Carlsson and rally legend made. Also known as “Carlsson on the Roof” the Saab ambassador celebrated his 80th Birthday in March. For the Swedish premium brand, it was reason enough with the special model Saab 9-3 Erik Carlsson rally as a tribute to remember their traditions and rally successes. The Saab 9-3 Erik Carlsson Saab presents itself as a typical combination of sportiness and safety – with a powerful 240 hp engine and the ultra-modern four-wheel drive XWD (Cross Wheel Drive) and electronic differential lock ELSD.

Sport-feeling – outside and inside

A doppelflutige exhaust system, a subtle, silver-colored front spoiler, a diffuser on the rear and standard 18-inch wheels give the Erik Carlsson Saab 9-3 a sporty appearance. Optional is a sports exhaust system, a sports suspension and 19-inch alloy wheels.

The interior consists of sporty-elegant impression continued: door, cockpit and center console in Carbon Fairings optics contribute to the sporty character of the tactile quality of leather dashboard, hand brake and shifting.

Saab Drive – Power with Responsibility

The heart of the new Saab 9-3 Erik Carlsson is the partner with Saab Hirsch Performance engine and developed the modern four-wheel Saab XWD technology. The two-liter turbo engine makes 240 hp and a torque of 350 Newton meters. That makes a sprint from stand to 100 in just 7.3 seconds, top speed is 245 km / h. Despite the impressive performance of the fuel consumption is only 8.2 liters per 100 kilometers.

The modern Saab XWD all-wheel system distributes the torque of the motor depending on the needs continuously between the front and rear axle and ensures optimal grip and stability in all situations.

An important part of the system is an electronically controlled torque distribution (TTD – Torque Transfer Device), the force is distributed between the axles. A valve increases or decreases the hydraulic pressure on the Nasskupplung inside the TTD is activated or deactivated, and so gradually the rear axle. The degree of slip is, how much the rear wheels are driven. The force distribution between the two axes can, in extreme cases by almost 100 percent vary. The electronic locking differential (ELSD) – also standard part of the special model – works on the same principle: It distributes the engine driving the rear axle in practice, also with close to 100 percent of the wheel, which has more grip.

The Saab 9-3 is Erik Carlsson as a sports sedan from 42,350 euros, the Sport Combi will cost 43,950 euros.

The folks from Saab Automobile Germany and the local dealership in Frankfurt that hosted the classic Saab car show this past weekend, have provided Saab History photos of the event.

As you can see with the photos, there were a number of vehicles present, by local Saab Enthusiasts in Germany as well as Switzerland. On hand, was Peter Backstrom, curator of the Saab Car Museum in Sweden as well as Andrew Dyson, Saab designer at GM Europe.

During the event there was live music provided by Swedish singer Pia Fridhill, and even a live demonstration of a Saab 99 restoration by a master technician at the Saab Zentrum Frankfurt.

Evidently, there was even a parts market, books on hand in addition to model cars and tv clips showing vintage Saabs in action.

Overall, it looks like it was a great time had by all that were in attendance.

Today, there was a classic car display in Frankfurt, Germany. The event was hosted by Saab Germany and took place at a local Saab dealership, even Peter BackstrÃ¶m, curator of the Saab Car Museum in Sweden was there!

I have been promised photos early next week, so please stay tuned. In the meantime, here is a nice translation of their press release, thanks again to the folks at Saab Automobile Germany.

Â· Automotive legends bring Scandinavian flair to the metropolis on the Main
Â· Meet designers and engineers on site

RÃ¼sselsheim. In celebration of 30 years of Saab turbocharging, up to 50 classic Saab cars will be displayed on the grounds of the Saab Zentrum Frankfurt on September 12 and 13. Exhibits will include two legendary Saab 96s and several Saab Sonetts, as well as the Saab 900 Talladega.
Contemporary models such as the high performance 280-hp Turbo X will also be on show. Connoisseurs and fans of the Swedish premium brand are cordially invited to get a close-up experience of Saabâ€™s automotive history.

The event starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, September 12, when a classic Saab 900 Turbo and the Turbo X, recalling the look of its 1979 predecessor with a black paint finish, will arrive at the dealership. â€œFather and son all in black, thatâ€™s certainly a visual highlight,â€ says Heike Herzog, managing director of the Saab Zentrum in Frankfurt. â€œOn Saturday, our doors will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. We expect about 50 classic Saabs from all over Germany, owned by our customers and members of the Saab Club Rhein-Main. Several cars will even arrive from Switzerland.â€

Swedish cars, Swedish music, Swedish flair In addition to the historic Saab model exhibition in the courtyard of the dealership, visitors can enjoy a number of special activities and the entertainment program. Janos Bende, the master automobile mechanic at Saab Zentrum Frankfurt, will demonstrate a live restoration on his own Saab 99 and designer Dietmar Finger, from GMEâ€™s Design Center in RÃ¼sselsheim, will tell the story of how he fell in love with the brand and be available to answer technical questions. Saab enthusiasts will also be able to look around the parts market and pick up a gem or two. Books about Saabâ€™s legendary rallying exploits will be on hand, together with a collection of model cars and TV clips showing historic Saabs in action.

To keep the children entertained, artist and playground designer Micha Steinhauer will be on site with his â€œPhantasiothekâ€. Six stations with
novel wooden toys will give free rein to youthful creativity. The Swedish singer Pia Fridhill and her band will provide live musical entertainment.

For further information on the event, please contact Heike Herzog:

Telephone Nr. 069-94195220 or eMail h.herzog@autohaus-saab.de.
*
For further information on Saab and Saab products:

Saab Automobile Germany seems to be selling more than just automobiles these days at one of their Saab dealership’s showrooms in Berlin.

This arrangement recalls my memory of the event that took place in New York City this past March during the Saab Reflective BioPower eco-clothing launch that served as the backdrop for the North American debut of the Saab 9-X BioHybrid Concept car.

So when will fashion designer Elie Saab ,finally showcase his line with Saab when name recognition seems to be everything these days?

Furthermore, I wonder if this trend continues, the Saab brand may end up with satellite stores in malls and airports selling their fashion line of clothing..making the automobile sale absolutely inevitable. There is already advertising at the Munich Airport as well as a boutique such the GM store at the Detroit Airport, so what’s to stop this trend if it helps get more people together with Saab as a globally recognized brand like Apple?

Here is the summary of the arrangement in Berlin, Germany featuring Fashion designer Anette Petermann.

For a few days designs by fashion designer Anette Petermann were showcased in the SAAB Showroom at KurfÃ¼rstendamm

Few days ago some designs of well known Berlin fashion designer Anette Petermann were shown at the SAAB Showroom at KurfÃ¼rstendamm 100. SAAB is a car maker whose designs are admired by design lovers all over the world.

The clothes which were exhibited at SAAB Showroom perfectly fitted into the design heavy atmosphere and you could encounter a perfect symbiosis of fashion, design and the art of manufacturing cars.

This just in from Saab Automobile Germany, loosely translated from Babelfish.

Saab XWD – The Leader in All Wheel Drive Technology

Ultramodern all wheel system sets yardsticks with comfort, security and driving fun *
XWD technology now also in 210 HP the strong Saab 9-3 with 2,0-Liter-Turbomotor *
Gradual expansion of the all wheel offer on further engine variants in Russelsheim. *

The ultramodern Saab XWD (CROSS Wheel drive) – system sets new milestones in the all wheel technology and guarantees to the driver a maximum of control and active driving fun. All the same with which climatic conditions or on which underground, with Saab XWD are drivers and passengers sporty and above all surely on the way. The fully automatic system distributes permanently, depending upon need and driving conditions, torque between foremost and rear axle. It prevented thereby effectively over or under and keeps the car trace stable. Originally for the special requirements of the Swedish winter with snow and developed, the innovative all-wheel drive masters ice-smooth lanes owing to its thought out technology just as problem-free and reliably wet-with-rain or with leaves covered, slippery roads, as it brings the coming autumn and winter season back with itself.

Kjell-Ã…ke Eriksson, who has worked for 30-years at Saab Automobile Sweden and currently is the Vehicle Line Director for Saab Automobile AB, has recently been appointed as Managing Director for Saab Automobile Germany.

Change at the Saab Germany point * Kjell Ake Eriksson of new managing directors of the Saab Germany GmbH * Willi Fey takes over line of the mark-spreading GME TeilegeschÃ¤fts for central and Eastern Europe * Hans JÃ¶rg HÃ¤nggi new sales director of the Saab Germany GmbH Ruesselsheim. Kjell Ake Eriksson (55) becomes 1 June 2008 a new managing director of the Saab Germany GmbH.

The Swede, who can look back on one more than 30 years long Saab career, was last in several leading positions in the engineer range active, among them as an Executive Director for the series 9-3 and 9-5 as well as responsible person for future projects.

Eriksson replaces thereby Willi Fey (54), which becomes starting from June with GM Europe Director Independent Aftermarket Europe. Fey transfers with the guidance of three independent GME own societies for the free, mark-spreading partial business to central and Eastern European markets the trading area with large growth potential, strategically important for general of engine.

Thomas Owsianski, Executive Director, Sales, marketing & Aftersales for OPELs, Chevrolet and Saab in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, congratulated the coming Saab Germany boss to its new task: â€žI am pleased with Kjell Ake Eriksson an experienced automan as a new managing director to have won.

I am convinced of the fact that he will continue to make progress with the mark Saab in Germany. â€œ Owsianski further: â€žI thank you Willi Fey. It introduced a clear new start during its management with Saab Germany. With large commitment and expert knowledge by it the bases for a future success-bringing of the mark were created. In addition count not least the optimization of the sales partner and service nets. â€œ So the Saab Germany GmbH could register this yearly with 1420 units a clear plus in the first four months with the license payments in the comparison to the previous year.

Beyond that it comes with Saab Germany also to a new occupation of the position of the sales director: The role is taken over starting from 1 August von Hans JÃ¶rg HÃ¤nggi. It bring along likewise long years Saab experience and was last in the marketing range of the Saab center in Sweden active. After the successful introduction of the completely revised 9-3 series and the new TTiD and bio power engines further product innovations the crucial switches are posed to the future with the again developed, since short available, ultramodern all-wheel drive system Saab XWD (CROSS Wheel drive) and. Beyond that Saab plans the introduction of a number of new products for the year 2009.